8 August 2004

Iceland research expedition

At this time of year most people are dreaming of a month in the sun, complete with rolling white sandy beaches but for a group of University of Dundee students an unusual summer destination beckons - Iceland. The group of third year geography students set off on Monday 9 August to take part in a month long research expedition.

With mean annual temperatures for the island ranging from only 4 - 6 degrees Celsius, the team will spend four weeks conducting investigations of the glacial landscapes found in the south of the island and in particular will research the impacts of recent climatic warming on glaciers in that area. The researchers hope to find some evidence of glacier movement in the region caused by climate change through the twentieth century.

Known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun" Iceland was only settled a thousand years ago by Norwegian Vikings and this means the research team can easily study the direct effect that human inhabitation has had on the island.

Team leader, Vicki low explains her excitement about the trip, "The expedition will be of great educational and personal value to the five team members. Ultimately we want to show how the environment has changed and how these changes might affect the Icelandic people."

The team who will be camping in tents for the duration of the expedition have helped finance the trip through a variety of fundraising events including quiz nights, a slave auction and a raffle. Funding has also been received from the Carnegie Trust, Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Gino Watkins Memorial Fund and the University of Dundee’s graduate Council and Geography Department amongst others.

The group will travel for three days by ferry from Aberdeen on Monday August 9, arriving in Seyðisfjöður on the east coast of Iceland on Thursday and arrive back in Aberdeen on September 12.

For further information please call Press Office on 01382 344768

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk